Crystal

Chapter 9: "Just please do it already."

It was raining. I stood by Rob's side as they proceeded to lower the casket into the ground. Anthony's family silently cried, some clutching each other. His parents whom I met at the wake couldn't take their eyes of the tombstone.

I didn't think I'd be able to make it to this but I wanted to be there for Rob. It rained on Leza's funeral too. Rain used to be soothing to me at one point. Leza would remind me that it was just running water. If there was lighting or thunder then it only made the relaxation of the rain stronger. When we were kids we'd run outside during a thunderstorm and play. It would freak the neighbors out but our parents didn't care. My mother sat on the porch and read her book while we played out front.

I got lost in my mind thinking about those days. Before dad got sick he'd come out and run around with us too. Mom would go back inside while he played with us. After a short while we would go back in the house, mom wrapped us in huge thick towels and made us change into warm dry clothes. We'd come into the dining room and were greeted with homemade soup mom made when she went back inside. We got older and still kept on. Even after we moved out of our parent's house and dad got sick. Leza and I went jogging in the rain. Then we'd go back to one of our apartments and make soup.

I lifted up my head when Rob nudged me. I've been staring at the ground where Anthony was buried. Everyone had started to leave. Anthony's parents stood still in their places. As people passed them by they placed their hands gently on his mother’s shoulder, whispered their sympathies and walked away. Rob told me he was their only child. I can't imagine what was running through their minds right now. Probably what my parents went through. But my parents didn’t lose their only child.

We walked over to them and Rob and I gave our apologies. Rob hugged Anthony's mom and patted his dad's arm. We started to walk away when his mom spoke.

"He was acting paranoid for a few weeks. He knew something horrible. Why didn't he say anything?" His mom whispered those words. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She clutched on to her husband's arm tighter. She looked up at me and her face was filled with so much pain it made me hold my breath for a moment. Her eyes were swollen from all the crying she had been doing. I wanted to embrace her and hug her tight. I'm sorry you're feeling this pain. I'm really sorry.

We left the funeral and went back to Rob's house. He had taken off his button down shirt but kept his black wife beater on that was underneath. I had just taken off my black heels but kept the black dress on. I wanted to change but didn't feel like it. Laziness at its best I guess.

"Hey, how are you doing?" I asked him. He had just finished his third beer.

"I'm okay. I guess. It's not the first friend lost." He said. He snapped open another beer. "It's just never something I wanna get used to."

"I'm gonna head in and change. I'll be right back." I got up and slipped my shoes back on and headed to the door.

I looked back over at Rob to see him looking back at me. We smiled at each other and I left.

Walking back to my house made me feel dizzy. I have been trying to spend less time in here but then it makes me feel guilty. It's Leza's house. I shouldn't be so afraid of it. I shouldn't have let the nightmares get to my head.

Before I turned the knob I took a deep breath. Oh stop, I told myself. I walked inside and turned on the light. It was silent in here. And a little cold, but I assumed because I remembered leaving the bedroom window open. I quickly headed upstairs to change. I was right, the bedroom window was opened. I started feeling a little better; my head seemed to chill out. I threw on a pair of ripped jeans and a band t-shirt I got a few years back. It was faded and snug but comfy. I put on my sneakers and then headed to the bedroom door.

I heard the door downstairs open. I stood still. Was it Rob? I didn't wanna call out. What if it wasn't Rob? I took a slow step forward making sure to not make any noises. I listened closely. I didn't hear anything. Maybe it was just paranoia. I took one more step forward. Still silence. I sighed and began going downstairs.

I stopped and almost lost my footing. The thing, whatever it was- he was there at the bottom of the steps looking up at me. My heart was beating so fast it nearly came out of my chest. It gave me chills down my spine seeing how close he was to me, even though he was just down the stairs. He had black stringy hair that had short pieces that fell in front of his face. His twist grin kept getting wider; the blood around his mouth looked brighter on his pale skin. His hands were long claws. I felt dizzy, I started to sway. I couldn't call out because I couldn't find my voice.

He took one step on the stairs. With every bit of energy I could find I turned around and ran back into the room. I stumbled in and slammed the door locking it. I was breathing hard. I felt like I was being suffocated and now I struggled to breathe. The door was banging. I looked up and I saw the knob shaking. He was trying to get in. After a few moments it stopped. I was on the floor still, staring at the door. It must have been five minutes. I couldn't tell if he had gone yet.

I had to move sometime. I leaned forward and started to slowly crawl to the door. I'm inches away when the door bangs so hard the room shakes. Everything is shaking. I get up to run to the window but the touch of it is so cold it burns.

The room was shaking harder. Books and frames were falling off the shelves. I fell on the floor and started screaming.

"Go away! Leave me alone!" I shouted. It did nothing for me. The door banged so hard it was nearly coming off the hinges.

I pulled my knees to my chest and lowered my head. I started to scream again. It was like the room was caving in. The door shook more violently.

"Just please go away. Please go away."

The shaking stopped. I lifted my head up. Why did I do this? Why did I come to this fucking place?

I gasp as he was all of a sudden right over me. He was crouching over me, his body bending in an eerily manner. I didn't think there was a way he could look more terrifying. His bloody, twisted grin was spreading across his face; his head was slowly tilting to the side. I stared as it lowered itself over me knocking me down on my back.

I can feel him inside me, twisting my insides. I started screaming as his face came lower towards mine. He pinned me down and I closed my eyes. I couldn't stop screaming. Every time he got closer it was hurting me. Why couldn't this be over? "If you're gonna tear me apart you bastard then do it already!" I shouted.

His long thin finger brushed up my neck and I felt paralyzed. "Just please do it already." My eyes shut tight and I waited.